As diplomatic efforts intensify in Washington to secure a Gaza ceasefire, Israel launched one of the heaviest bombardments in recent weeks on northern Gaza, resulting in dozens of casualties and widespread destruction. The escalation comes just a day after U.S. President Donald Trump urged both sides to finalize a deal to end the 20-month war.
Night of Destruction in Gaza
Residents in Gaza reported relentless Israeli airstrikes and artillery shelling overnight. The military targeted eastern neighborhoods of Gaza City, particularly the Zeitoun suburb, following mass evacuation orders to civilians. At least 25 Palestinians were killed, including 10 in Zeitoun, according to Gaza health authorities. Later in the day, another 13 people were confirmed dead in southwestern Gaza, bringing Monday’s death toll to at least 38.
Palestinians inspect the damage at an UNRWA school sheltering displaced people that was hit in an Israeli air strike on Sunday, in Gaza City, June 30, 2025. REUTERS/Mahmoud Issa
As reported in Reuters, strike hit home and schools where displaced families were sheltering, “In the news we hear a ceasefire is near, on the ground we see death and we hear explosions,” said Salah, a 60-year-old father of five from Gaza City. He described the bombardments as feeling “like earthquakes.”
Israeli Military Operation Escalates
The Israeli military said its strikes targeted Hamas command and control centers and that steps were taken to minimize civilian harm. However, residents said several UN-run schools sheltering displaced people were hit after warnings to evacuate. Israeli tanks also advanced into eastern Gaza City, while shelling intensified across several northern regions.
Mourners react during the funeral of a Palestinian killed on Sunday in an Israeli air strike on a school, according to Gaza’s health ministry, at Al-Ahli Arab Hospital in Gaza City, June 30, 2025. REUTERS/Mahmoud Issa
The renewed attacks follow evacuation orders for vast areas of northern Gaza, including parts previously ravaged by fighting. The military claims that Hamas militants continue to operate in these zones, including central Gaza City.
White House Talks and Diplomatic Push
Against this backdrop, Israel’s Minister of Strategic Affairs, Ron Dermer—a close aide to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu—is expected at the White House for talks centered on Gaza, Iran, and broader regional diplomacy. President Trump has publicly called for a ceasefire and the return of hostages still held in Gaza.
FILE PHOTO: Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu gives a statement during a visit to the site of the Weizmann Institute of Science, which was hit by an Iranian missile barrage, in the central city of Rehovot, Israel June 20, 2025. JACK GUEZ/Pool via REUTERS/File Photo
Israel’s security cabinet is also meeting to discuss next steps in the conflict. Israeli officials have stated that their ground offensive is nearing its military objectives and that opportunities are emerging to recover remaining hostages—around 20 of whom are believed to be alive.
Ceasefire Talks: Stalled but Ongoing
Mediators Qatar and Egypt are intensifying their efforts behind the scenes, though no date has been announced for the next round of truce negotiations. A key point of contention remains: Hamas demands a full Israeli withdrawal and an end to the war, while Israel insists the conflict will not end until Hamas is disarmed and dismantled.
Palestinians inspect the damage at an UNRWA school sheltering displaced people that was hit in an Israeli air strike on Sunday, in Gaza City, June 30, 2025. REUTERS/Mahmoud Issa
Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar said Israel had agreed to a U.S.-backed proposal for a 60-day ceasefire and hostage release deal. The proposed plan would see Hamas release half of the hostages in exchange for Palestinian prisoners and the remains of others, with a broader agreement leading to the end of the war and the release of the remaining hostages.
A War With Heavy Toll
The conflict, which began on October 7, 2023, when Hamas launched a surprise attack into southern Israel, has become one of the deadliest in the region’s history. The initial attack killed 1,200 people and saw 251 hostages taken into Gaza. In the months that followed, more than 56,000 Palestinians—mostly civilians—have been killed in Israeli strikes, according to the Gaza health ministry.
Smoke rises following an Israeli air strike, near the Israel-Gaza border, as seen from Israel, June 29, 2025. REUTERS/Amir Cohen
The war has displaced nearly the entire population of Gaza, and the United Nations estimates that over 80% of the territory is now either under evacuation orders or under Israeli military control, leaving the enclave in a state of humanitarian collapse.
